Dental disease affects up to 80% of pets over the age of three, and just like humans, there can be serious consequences of poor dental health. Bacteria growing on teeth and gums can travel by way of the blood stream to infect heart valves, kidneys and other tissues in the body.

The centerpiece of good dental care is a complete oral exam followed by a thorough cleaning. Dental cleanings include ultrasonic scaling followed by polishing and a mouth rinse, the combination of which is designed to remove tartar and plaque and slow its buildup. Our staff will routinely examine teeth at the time of an annual exam and will make recommendations about professional dental cleanings, and preventative follow up measures that can be taken at home.

Signs of dental health problems that you can recognize include the following:

• Persistent bad breath
• Tartar build up on teeth
• Inflammation of the gums
• Loose or missing teeth
• Decreased appetite or difficulty eating

To expedite the treatment of a sick pet and for the convenience of our clients, we stock a wide variety of veterinary pharmaceuticals.

The treatment of many conditions often requires the feeding of specialized veterinary diets. We carry a variety of Hills, Royal Canin and Purina prescription foods.

In addition, we carry a variety of pet products that add our clients in the care of their cats and dogs.

Blood testing offers us a “picture” of what is happening inside our pet’s bodies. These values are then interpreted to tell us how your pet’s organs are functioning as well as let us know about any sort of infections or electrolyte imbalances. Routine blood testing, urinalysis, and other tests are recommended for all pets, particularly senior pets. Routine blood testing and urinalysis for younger pets are recommended to establish baseline values, which can be used for comparison as a pet age.

Diagnostic Services
Laboratory testing provides us a valuable view inside your pet’s body in order to assess overall systemic health without the need for invasive and expensive procedures. This is why we maintain an in-house laboratory.

In our lab, we can perform urinalysis, parasite identification, blood chemistry testing, and more. In most cases, we can obtain results within minutes. Quick diagnosis leads to prompt treatment of the sick pet.

We also perform testing prior to procedures that require anesthesia. This is a precautionary step to ensure that a pet does not have adverse reactions.

From the very first day you bring a new pet home through the final days of its life, nutrition plays a critical role in your pet’s overall health and well-being. Many pet owners take nutrition for granted, in part because the availability of so many nutritionally complete commercial diets has taken much of the guesswork out of choosing a suitable diet for a pet. However, did you know that your pet’s nutritional needs change with age and activity level? Did you know that specially formulated diets can assist in the management of various medical conditions, including kidney disease, diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease? Do you know how many calories your pet should have each day and whether you are over- or underfeeding? Are you comfortable reading and interpreting pet food labels?

Whether your pet has special dietary needs or simply needs to shed (or gain) a few pounds, our nutritional counseling services can help you accomplish your goals and keep your pet in good health. We offer counseling in dietary selection and feeding practices for pets during various life stages, such as growth, pregnancy, nursing, and the “golden years.” If your pet has a medical condition, we can help you select the most appropriate diet to suit your pet’s needs.

It can be easy for a pet owner to become overwhelmed by the available selection of pet foods, all of which claim to have specific benefits for pets. We can offer expert advice to help you negotiate the complicated array of choices. Let our nutritional counseling service help you achieve and maintain optimal nutrition for your pet.

Annual fecal examinations and deworming as needed are recommended for all pets to protect the health of the pet as well as family members that could become infected with parasites such as roundworms or hookworms. In addition, all dogs should be blood tested annually for heartworms. After negative heartworm tests, all pets should receive heartworm prevention as well as flea and tick preventative. Our staff is trained to provide you with current information, medication discounts, and any help you may need with the administration of these anti-parasitic medications.

A radiograph (sometimes called an x-ray) is a type of photograph that can look inside the body and reveal information that may not be discernable from the outside. Radiography can be used to evaluate almost any organ in the body, including the heart, lungs, and abdominal organs, as well as the bones.

Radiography is painless, safe, and completely non-invasive, and it uses only very low doses of radiation. Because the level of radiation exposure needed to perform radiography is very low, even pregnant females and very young pets can undergo radiography. Radiographs can be used to evaluate bones as well as the size, shape, and position of many of the body’s organs. The size of organs is important because some medical conditions—such as kidney, heart, or liver disease—can alter the size of these organs. The shape and position of organs can be altered or distorted by certain medical conditions, including intestinal blockage or cancer. Tumors, depending on their size and location, can also sometimes be detected using radiography. Radiography can also be used to diagnose bladder stones, broken bones, chronic arthritis, certain spinal cord diseases, and a variety of other conditions.

Radiographs are an important tool that can help us make a correct diagnosis for your pet. Our radiology service is staffed by caring, skilled professionals who will provide state-of-the-art care with compassion and expertise.

Regular wellness visits are important for every stage of your pet’s life, so don’t forget to keep your senior pet’s scheduled wellness appointments. The best way to help protect your pet as he or she ages is to understand the aging process in pets. We understand that process and can help you help your pet. Even if your senior pet is already being treated for a medical condition, treatment recommendations can change as a condition progresses. Sometimes medication dosages need to be adjusted, or medication may need to be changed. Routine wellness blood work and other routine diagnostic testing are important for senior pets because these tests allow us to evaluate how your pet’s health is either responding to current management strategies or changing with age.

Your senior pet’s wellness examination is also your chance to have us address any of your questions or concerns about your pet. We welcome your questions and encourage you to be involved in decisions regarding your pet’s health care.

Older pets make wonderful companions, and thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, pets are living longer than ever! You are an important ally in your senior pet’s health care. We are here to help ensure that your pet is safe and happy throughout the “golden years”.